Alex’s POV

“Blood speaks louder than words.”

The first bullet hit the man’s knee.

He screamed.

I didn’t flinch.

Pain was a useful language. Raw. Universal. Honest.

I stepped closer, the cold warehouse air pressing down like fog. My men stood back, silent. Loyal. Waiting.

“Tell me again,” I said, crouching to meet his eyes. “Who were you selling to?”

“I—I don’t know his name! I swear!” the man cried, blood pouring onto the concrete floor beneath him.

I tilted my head. “Wrong answer.”

Another shot. This time to the shoulder.

He wailed.

Lying bastard.

I already knew the answer. I just wanted to hear it from his mouth.

“You worked for me,” I continued calmly. “You ate off my table. You smiled in my face... and sold me out.”

“N-No, Alex—please! I needed money. My sister—she—”

I grabbed his face, squeezing his jaw hard.

“I don’t give a damn about your sister.”

He was shaking. Pathetic.

I stood, wiping my gloved hands on a cloth. I hated mess. Blood should be quick, clean. Beautiful.

“Burn the body. Erase the files. Make it look like he never existed,” I ordered without looking back.

“Yes, boss,” one of my men nodded.

I walked out of the warehouse, sliding my gun back into my belt as the cool night wind hit my face.

They called me ruthless.

They were right.

You don’t build an empire by being merciful. You don’t survive in my world by playing fair. I learned that lesson young. My first kill was at sixteen. My first betrayal? Younger.

People disappoint. Blood doesn’t.

I ran a syndicate that spanned continents, arms to tech, money laundering to silence-for-sale. And still, in public, I was the polished CEO. Mr. Alex Volkov. Charmer. Billionaire. Husband.

The blood on my hands hadn’t even dried when I got Mia’s message My love, My wife .

Mia: “Pick me up husband . We’re going to dinner. Family’s waiting.”

Dinner.

A perfect cover to play the role of a husband, son-in-law, and soon-to-be brother-in-law. Even if I’d rather be back at the warehouse, dealing with bodies and silence.

I cleaned up quickly and picked up Mia. As usual, she talked the entire ride. Her mother called twice, and her father sent some business updates. She liked chaos. I preferred control.

When we arrived, the table was already set. Her parents were laughing, Blake was playing, and Mia was clinging to my arm.

I was barely listening when I heard footsteps. Light. Careful. Familiar.

Lara.

She walked in like a shadow trying not to be seen. Her eyes stayed low, her steps quiet, and she sat at the far end of the table—like she didn’t belong.

But I noticed her.

I always noticed her.

She was trying to pretend I didn’t exist, but I could feel the tension in her shoulders, the way her fingers trembled slightly while picking up her spoon.

She felt my gaze.

She knew I was watching.

After a few minutes, she stood up and quietly walked into the kitchen. I gave it a beat before following, pretending to answer a phone call.

She didn’t hear me at first. But she felt it—the shift in the air, the weight of my presence.

She turned slowly.

Her eyes widened when she saw me.

She backed away instinctively, like a deer sensing the wolf in the woods.

I stepped forward, slowly, deliberately.

Then I leaned down, letting my breath graze her ear.

“You looked scared,” I whispered. “I like that.”

She bolted from the kitchen.

And I smirked.

Second encounter.

I was outside the mall, waiting for Mia and the others to finish wedding shopping. Rose was quiet, distant as usual. My sister had always been stubborn.

Then I saw her.

Lara.

With a friend. A girl

She saw me and gave a polite nod. “Hello,” she said softly before walking away.

She thought that was it.

But I stayed behind.

That’s when I saw her again—hugging someone. A boy

Didn’t matter.

All I saw was Lara in someone else’s arms.

My fists clenched. Blood boiled.

I wanted to snap his neck right there. I didn’t care who he was. No one touches her.

She turned slightly before walking away—and saw me.

The fear in her eyes said everything.

Good.

Let her feel it.

Let her run.

Third encounter.

Later that evening, I returned to the mansion from the warehouse.

As I walked toward my room, I stopped in the hallway.

Lara.

Standing halfway down the corridor, staring at the closed door to Rose’s room.

Suspicious.

I walked up behind her.

“Why are you looking at Rose’s room?” I asked.

She jumped, startled.

Her lips parted but she said nothing

I stepped closer, voice cold. “You shouldn’t wander where you don’t belong.”

She froze.

I didn’t wait for her to respond. I walked away, leaving her standing in the hallway like a lost little girl with too many secrets.

But I saw it.

The doubt in her eyes.

She knew something.

And she was afraid.

Good.

Fear makes people stay silent.

Author’s Note:

To be continued...

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